Connector for electrical conductors.



P. F. WILLIAMS.

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1913.

1,228,1 56. Patented May 29,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. F. WILLIAMS. CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1?. 19!}!- Patented May 29, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7. I913.

Patented May 29, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- L a agggg u M i I PAUL F. WILLIAMS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR TOG & W ELECTRIC SPECIALTY (30., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL F. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Connectors for Electrical Conductors,,of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference, being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for terminating and connecting electrical conductors, and especially to a type of device involving a tubular o hollow casing or housing for an end portion of one of the conductors to be terminated or connected. In my Patent No. 831,815, issued tome September 25, 1906, I show a connector for electrical conductors, involving a hollow or tubular casing, in which one end of a cable is terminated and also involving a cover for said casing'and connecting devices for the conductors.

Prominent objects of my present invention are to provide a simple,practical and effective device of the class specified; to arrange for the proper termination and connection of the conductors and also to permit effective insulating of the same; to simplify and cheapen the cost of manufacture; and to secure the foregoing andother desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanylng drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of "a. multiple conductor device involving my present invention Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a singleconductor device involving certain features of construction disclosed in the multiple conductor device of Fig. 1, but modified with respect thereto in certain respects; V

Fig. 4; is a view similar to Fig. 3 of another modification; and

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views of the upper end portions of-still other modified forms. Referring first to Fig. 1, I show a case 1, preferably'made with a straight vertical side 2, and a bulging or projecting side 3 opposite the side 2. Both the sides 2 and 3 are preferablysemi-circularin cross section, or in other words semi-cylindrical in form, as shown in Fig. 2. The side 2 is provided with upper and lower cross pieces 4 and 5 a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 17,

Patented May 29, 1917.

1913. Seria1 No.754,726.

cable 9, which cable or the strands thereof are to be terminated or connected. The top of the casing is provided with a lid or cover 10, preferably having small over-hangs 11, so that the cover is adapted to fit snugly upon and over the upper end of the casing 1. Several tubular members 12-12 are mounted upon and rise from the lid or cover 10.

Three of these members 12 are shown but the number, of course, could be varied, there being three in the present instance because there are three strands in the cable 9, and a member 12 is provided for each one of said strands. These members 12 are preferably made in a straight row from side to side of the device. Each member 12 is preferably in the form of a hollow cylindric device with its sides provided with corrugations 13, and its lower end is provided with an aperture capable of receiving a cable strand with more or less of the insulation upon'it. The con nection between each member 12 and the lid or cover 10 is effected by means of a hollow projection 15 preferably made integral with the lid 10, and extending up in somewhat conical form above the surface of said lid, as well shown in Fig. 1. These projections 15 conveniently fit against the lower ends of the corrugations 13 so as to support and hold the members 12 in proper position, and insulating material 16 is desirably arranged within hollow annular spaces in said members 15. 'The lid or cover 10 is desirably held in place by bolts 1717 adapted to engage lugs 1818 on the lid 10 and also lugs 1919 on the body member or casing 1, as an alternative arrangement, screws 20-20 passing through the cover into the sides of the casing 1 may serve to hold the cover in place.

Each member 12 is provided with a cover so that the bare conductor 23 is exposed within the member 12 and extends up through an aperture in the top of the cap 21. A sleeve 21 is fitted over said exposed or bare conductor, said sleeve 24 extending substantially the length of the top or cap 21 and having its lower end projecting into the chamber 25 of the member 12 at which point it is engaged by screws 2626 passing through the upper end portion of the member 12 and into opposite sides of the lower end portion of the sleeve 24:. The upper end of the sleeve 21 is preferably screw threaded, as at 27, and a cap piece28 having a threaded bore is fitted upon the upper end of the top 21 and screwed into engagement with the threaded portion 27 of the sleeve 24. The sides 29 of the cap piece 28 are ex tended down and fitted upon the upper end portion of the conical exterior of the top 21, whereby the cap piece 28 with its downwardly extending lips 29 forms a water tight protection and cover for the upper end of the top 2. The cap piece 28 is preferably made of metal and the top 21 and tubular member 12 are preferably made of insulating material such as porcelain. A gasket 30 is desirably interposed between the cap piece 28 and the upper edge of top 21, and another gasket 31 is desirably interposed between the lower edge of the top 21 and upper edge of the uppermost corrugation 13. Thus it will be seen that a cable strand is led into the lower end of casing 1 and then through the same to one of the members 12 with the insulation on said strand within the bowl or casing 1, but removed from the same in the interior of the tubular member 12, and that the bared or exposed conductor is terminated and connected with by means of the sleeve 21 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the conductor. Screws 26 pass through said sleeve and if desired engage the conductor so as to hold the samein proper position. It will be understood that insulating material or compound is preferably introduced within the; chamber 25 of the member 12 and thus it will be seen that such insulating material or compound canbe put into the interior of the member 12 after the cable strand is drawn up and placed and fastened in proper position in the same by the screws 26. Thus the cable strand or conductor can be properly fixed in place and then the insulating compound put inside the member 12 and then after this the top 21 can be put in place, thus permitting the connection to be very conveniently made. After the top 21 is in place the cap piece 28 can be put on the sleeve 2-1 and screwed down into position against the cover 21. In this way a thoroughly water tight structure is made. The interior of only one of the tubular members 12 is shown in Fig. 1, but it is understood that the interiors of the other two members 1212 shown, may be the same, affording terminal connection for the other two strands of the cable 9, which strands it will be seen are distributed and extended to the proper tubular members within the interior of the bowl or casing 1, the arrangement thus permitting the bowl or casing to be secured to a straight wall on one side and the cable run up alongside of that wall, and then the strands of the cable being distributed to outlet structures which are arranged one after the other awayfrom the wall. Insulating material or compound may be arranged within the interior of the bowl or casing 1 by means of holes in the lid closed with pipe plugs 1010, if desired. The cable sheath is preferably terminated at the bottom of the bowl or casing 1 whereby the insulating material within such bowl or casingserves to insulate further the unsheathed cable strands. The lower end of the bowl or casing 1 is made in the form of a tapering tube 33, extending down along the cable sheath and a wiped joint 34: is desirably made connecting the tube or sleeve-like member 33 with the cable 9.

In Fig. 3 I have shown an outlet structure of the general type or character of the outlet arrangements of the device of Figs. 1 and 2,.the device of Fig. 3 showing such outlet structure somewhat modified and forming an individual single conductor device by itself. The arrangement of Fig. 3 comprises the tubular member 12 with cover or top 21 and other parts the same, except that the bared cable conductor 23 (Fig. 3), does not extend clear through the top 21 as the conductor 23 of Fig. 1 does. But on the contrary the cable conductor 23 is terminated within the member 12 and fitted into a socket at the lower end of a connecting device 35 which is conveniently in the form of a ,metal cylindric structure having sockets in its opposite ends, one of which as stated receives the end 23 of the cable conductor, and the other of which receives the end 36 of a conductor to be connected with the cable conductor 23. The connecting piece 35 is extended through the top or cover 21, and is held in place by being fastened to the upper end of the member 12 by screws 26, which pass through the walls of said upper end of the member 12 into the lower end portion of the connector 35. The upper end of the member is threaded at 38 and a metallic cap piece 28 is fitted and screwed upon the upper end of 35, said member being similar to the member 28 of Fig. 1, and provided with downwardly extending lips 29. A gasket 39 is conveniently interposed between the top 21 and upper end of member 12. By this arrangement the cable conductor 23 can be led into the member 12 and secured '21 put in position and then the cap 28 screwed down and then the conductor 36 fitted into the upper end of the member 35.

This allows connection to be made between two different conductors and also gives the advantage of allowing the compound to be filled into the interior of the member-12 before the top 21 is put in place. As an arrangement for supporting the member 12 I show in" this Fig. 3 a shell preferablyof metal as' brass, adapted to inclose the lower end portion of the member 12 and fit against the lower corrugation 13 thereof, said shell. 40 having a projection 41 006perating with a clamp 42 adapted to clamp a piping 43 or other device on which the arrangement is to be supported. The lower end of the shell 40 is provided with atapering tubular projection 44 which extends down along the exterior of the cable sheath 45, and is connected with the same by a wiped joint 46.

Referring to Fig 4. I have shown an individual device involving a disconnecting arrangement. The body part 12 contains a socket member 47 into the lower end of which the bared end 23 of the cable conductor is inserted. This member 47 has a socket 48 into which a plug member 49 is introduced and held by screws 26 26 passing through the upper end of the insulating tube or member 12. The plug mem ber 49 is hollow or cylindrical having a collar 50 at its upper end fitting against the upper end of the socket member 47.

' plug connecting device 51 has a reduced end portion 52 which fits into the member 49, the upper end of said member 51 being extended through and fitted into the top 21,

said member 51 also having its upper end 53 extended laterally so as to cover the opening at the top of 21, and also having an overhang 54 extending part way down the sides of the top 21*. The lower end of the member 12 is fitted into a shell 40*, which has an extension 55 forming a stuffing'box having a screw threaded plug 56 which receives and fits closely about the cable sheath 45, waste or stulfing material 57 being confined within the chamber formed by the extension 55. The top 21 has a petticoat 58.

Referring to Fig. 5, this figure shows simply the upper end of a device, the lower portion of which may be of any desired construction, as for example as shown in Fig. 3, or Fig. 4. In this device of Fig. 5 the top 21 is shown containing the bared conductor 23 which is understood to run through the device, as shown in Fig.1. A cap member 28 similar to the same member of Fig. -1 incloses a threaded sleeve 243,

which is secured into the cap 28. A small set screw 60is passed through the sleeve 24, and into the conductor 23, thus making firm connection between said conductor and said sleeve.

Referring to Fig. 6, which is a view of only the upper part of a device, as in Fig. 5, the top 21 is shown inclosing a connecting member 61, whose upper end 62 is screw threaded and projects up above the upper end of the top 21. A cap member 28 having an overhang 29 is secured upon the top of the member 62, a common rubber or insulating gasket 63 "being preferably interposed between the member 28 and top 21. The member 28 is provided with a projection 64 having an aperture 65 to which projection by way of the aperture 65 connec tion, can be made by another conductor which is to be connected with the member 61.

Referring to Fig. 7 which is a figure similar to Figs. 5 and 6, I show the top 21 surrounding a member 62 similar to the member 62 of Fig. 6 and caps 28 and 28 secured upon the projecting end of the member 62. The cap 28 has an overhang 29. A connecting device 66 having an opening to receive the upper end of the member 62 is interposed between the caps 28 and 28 and the cap 28 is screwed down upon said member 66 so as to make a tight connection therewith. The member 66 has an aperture 67 by which connection can be made.

Referring to Fig. 8, this figure shows a closure 70 preferably in the form of a plate having a threaded connection with the interior member 71 which may be a connecting device or other element, the plate 70 being when screwed down fitted against the upper edges of the tubular member 12. By this arrangement the tubular member 12 may be continually closed to prevent the compound from running or flowing out if the device is laid upon its side or inverted.

It will be understood that changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device. of the class specified comprising in combination, a tubular outlet, a cover for the same, a connecting device extending through said cover and having its lower end projecting into the upper end of upper end of said outlet member and covbular outlet member containing a connecting device, securing means extending crosswise through the outlet member and engaging the connecting device, a cover for the outlet member, said connecting device extending up through said cover and a cap member fitted over the upper end of said cover, and surrounding the upper end portion of said connecting device.

5. In a device of the class specified, a tubular insulator forming an outlet member, a removable cover of insulating material fitted over the upper end of said insulator, a metallic connecting device confined within said cover and having its lower end projecting into the insulator and its upper end projecting above the upper end of the cover, securing means extending crosswise of the insulator near the upper end thereof and from the wall of the same to the connecting device for holding the lower end of the latter in position, and a metallic cap fitted over the upper end of the cover and engaging the upper end portion of said connecting device.

6. In a device of the class specified, a tubular insulator forming an outlet member, a removable cover fitted over the upper end of said insulator, a metallic connecting device confined within said cover and having its lower end projecting into the insulator and its upper end projecting above the upper end of the cover, securing means extending crosswise of the insulator and from the wall of the same to the connecting device for holding the latter in position, and a metallic cap fitted over the upper end of the cover and surrounding the upper end portion of said connecting device, there being a screw threaded connection between said cap and the upper end of said connecting device. 7

7 In a device of the class specified, a tubular insulating member forming an outlet, an insulating cover for the same, a connecting device in, the form of a metallic sleeve arranged within said cover and having its lower end projecting into the upper end of the insulator and itsupper end projecting above the top of said cover, screws extend-v ing through the walls of the insulator and engaging the metallic sleeve and a metallic cap having a screw threaded connection with the upper end of said sleeve and having an overhang extending down the upper side portion of the cover.

8. In a device of the class specified, a tubular insulator forming an outlet, an insulating cover for the same, a connecting device arranged within said cover and having its lower end projecting into the upper end of the insulator, and having its upper end projecting above the top of the cover, said connecting device having sockets at its opposite ends, screws extending through the walls of the upper end portion of the tubular insulator, and into the lower end portion of said connecting device, the lower end of the cover extending down over and covering the outer ends of said screws, and a metallic cap piece fitted over the upper end of the cover and having a screw threaded connection with theupper end of said connecting device.

9. In a device of the class specified, the combination of an insulating outlet member and a cover therefor, a connecting device extended through the cover from top to bottom thereof, means for engaging the connecting device and upper end of the cover, and means for securing the lower end of the connecting device to the insulator.

10. A device of the class specified com prising a tubular outlet member, a cover for .the same, a connecting device extending through said cover into the upper end of said-outlet member, and means for securing the lower end of said connecting device to the upper end of said outlet member.

11. A device of the class specified, having a cover containing a sleeve and a set screw passing through said sleeve to engage a conductor within the same, in combination with a metallic cap having a screw threaded connection with said sleeve and forming a protector for the upper end of said cover.

12. A device of, the class specified comprising a tubular outlet member, a cover for the same, a connecting device extending through said cover into the upper end of said outlet member, means for securing the lower end of said connecting device to the upper end of said outlet member, and a cap mounted upon the upper end of said cover and detachably connected. with the upper end of said connecting device.

13. A device of the class specified comprising a tubular outlet member made of insulating material, a cover adapted to fit removably over the to of said. outlet mem her and also made of insulating material, a connecting device extending through said cover from top to bottom thereof, the lower end of said connecting device projecting into the upper end of said outlet member and being smaller than the same so as to leave a space betweenthe lower end of said connecting device and the interior side walls of the upper end of said outlet member,

' means extending crosswise to the upper end prising a tubular outlet member made of said outlet member to the lower end of said connecting device and holding the same insulating material, a cover adapted to removably over the top of said outiet mernher and also made of insulating material, a connecting device extending through said coverfrom top to bottom thereof, the lower end of said connecting device projecting into the upper end of said outiet inern er and being smaller than the same so as to leave a space between the lower end said connecting device and the interior side walls of the upper end of said outlet member means extending crosswise to -the upper end of saidoutlet member to the lower end of said connecting device and holding the same in position, a metallic cap mounted upon the upper end of said cover and detachably con nected' with the upper end of said connect through which said connecting device her comprising ing device, and insulating cement substantially titling the interior of said tubuiar outlet member The combination with a tubul member a cover there or, a comiecting device within the tubular enemher and a closure for the open ended the tubular member said closure being located within e cover and having an aperture sees 16. The combination with a tubular heinber and cover therefor, of a connecting device w' l in the tubular member and closure for the open end oi the tubular memplate located wit c the cover and having a threaded connection with the connecting device and hitting against the upper edges of the tubular meniben 1n witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day or" March, A, D,

PAUL n. WILLIAMS.

' Witnesses:

A. Jones, H, A0 dorms, 

